It’s a surprisingly warm February evening at Project House in Leeds, despite the stormy weather during the journey here. The massive queue of metallers eagerly waiting to enter the venue speaks volumes about the anticipation surrounding this show. Paleface Swiss is a band on the rise, and their devoted fans are more than ready to throw down on this Wednesday night.
The lineup for the evening is stacked. Kicking things off is UK beatdown crew Desolated, whose ferocious blend of slam riffs and hardcore beats ignites the crowd from the get-go. The energy in the room is palpable, with two-stepping and circle pits breaking out almost instantly. It’s an intense and welcome opening to the night, setting the tone for what’s to come.
Next up are the metalcore legends, The Acacia Strain. Hailing from Massachusetts and boasting a nearly two-decade-long career, they are an unstoppable force live. Their mix of deathcore, hardcore, and sludgy breakdowns sends the crowd into a frenzy. A huge influence on countless modern metal bands, The Acacia Strain demonstrates exactly why they are revered in the scene. Their energy is infectious, their riffs colossal, and their presence commanding.
But tonight belongs to Paleface Swiss. Since their debut EP in 2018, the band has rapidly gained recognition in the underground metal scene for their raw, aggressive fusion of beatdown, hardcore, and slam. However, it was the release of their acclaimed breakthrough album Fear and Dagger that truly propelled them into the spotlight. For those who discovered the band through that record—myself included—this headlining tour has been a long time coming. It marks their first-ever UK headlining run after their supporting visit in 2022, and the excitement in the air is undeniable.
Guitarist Yannick Lehmann takes to the stage first, soaking in the supercharged atmosphere with a grin. A founding member since 2017, he visibly relishes the moment before bassist Tommy Lee, drummer Cassiano “Cassi” Toma, and enigmatic frontman Marc “Zelli” Zellweger join him, greeted by a deafening roar from the crowd.
Launching straight into their breakout track ‘Hatred’ from their 2025 release Cursed, the audience immediately erupts into chaos. The momentum continues to build with ‘Suppressing Times,’ and the relentless breakdown of ‘My Blood on Your Hands’ allows Zelli a commanding moment in the solo spotlight. As a frontman, Zelli is magnetic—vocally flawless, effortlessly charismatic, and brimming with banter. His fishnet shirt and chiselled abs certainly don’t go unnoticed by the younger crowd members, adding another layer of entertainment to the spectacle.
While the setlist predominantly features tracks from their latest album, they make time for a few fan-favourite cuts from Fear and Dagger, including the aforementioned ‘Suppressing Times,’ ‘Nail to the Tooth,’ and the encore track ‘Pain.’ Standalone singles like ‘Please End Me,’ ‘The Gallows,’ and ‘Best Before: Death’—all released between albums to critical acclaim—are also welcome additions. Each song fuels the relentless pit activity, with circle pits, walls of death, and bursts of two-stepping keeping the audience in a state of euphoric chaos.
Closing the set with their newest single, ‘Love Burns,’ the band leaves the stage victorious. The crowd, drenched in sweat, exhausted, and sporting a few bruises, spills out into the night, buzzing with post-show adrenaline.
With their upcoming appearance at Bloodstock Festival in August, we fully expect Paleface Swiss to seize the opportunity and catapult themselves to even greater heights. The potential for these guys is massive, and if tonight is any indication, their trajectory is only going upward. A phenomenal night all around!
